Dysmenorrhea

Most of the conventional or allopathic modes of treatment for dysmenorrhea or painful menses or periods aim to palliate the pain rather than curing the cause behind it.

In allopathy, patients are mainly treated for pain and related symptoms with pain killers, anti spasmodic and anti inflammatory drugs.

Since there is no specific medicine available in allopathy, most of the prescription concentrates on temporary management and symptomatic relief. If the patient also has peptic ulcer, they have to suffer it or otherwise they have to suffer with ulcer complaints, since pain killers often aggravates peptic ulcer, acidity, gastritis and so on.

For congestion artificial menstruation is induced with hormonal drugs since menses release the congestion and thus pain.

For inflammation and cramps antibiotics and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used. These drugs inhibit prostaglandins which acts as a precursor for congestion and pain.

Oral contraceptive pills are also often used to reduce the pain. It acts hormonally. It prevents ovulation (the release of an egg) and so the preparatory works in uterus endometrium for lodging a fertile egg does not appear. So there would not be any congestion or pain. Hence, a woman, who does not ovulate, will not experience any spasmodic cramps. This type of treatment induces anovulatory cycles which may cause infertility.

In extreme painful cases, surgery is performed as a last resort for removing ovarian cysts, endometriotic cysts, polyps, adhesions and fibroids. In case of heavy bleeding with bulky uterus and fibroids, hysterectomy (removal of uterus with or without ovaries) is performed. Also, sometimes surgeons perform presacral sympathectomy i.e. cutting away the sensory nerves of the uterus and ovaries to block the conduction of the pain to the brain. Here the patient will not feel pain but will have all other symptoms.

Homeopathic approach

Even though nobody thinks of homeopathy in an acute condition of dysmenorrhea, miraculous cure can be seen in such cases. The treatment can cure the condition rather than control it temporarily. Each system of medicine has its own advantage and scope and homeopathy is no exception. It treats the patient in whole (mental and physical state of symptoms).

One of the most common reasons why people seek homeopathic remedies is the cure will be permanent and the treatment has no side effects.

Instantly killing pain with a painkiller tablet is like putting off the light when you do not want to see things. Surely, the day will come to light up when you cannot switch off the pain. Likewise, during painful periods, most women use painkillers which often suppress pain without treating the condition. So, the disease continues to grow and return later in full blast.

Painkillers will also cause ulceration and other complaints if taken often. In homeopathy, peptic ulcer and acidity patients are also in safer hands, since they won’t get any ulceration or any other side effects.

So patients who suffer from acidity or peptic ulcers and those who are sensitive to painkillers or antibiotics or any other drugs can take homeopathic medicines without any adverse reactions. Homeopathy is the fingerpost on the crossroads of healing which directs the way to safe and permanent cure.

Homeopathy works towards nature. In homeopathic treatment medicines are given for normal ovulation and menstruation in a natural way rather than for inducing artificial menstruation or suppressing normal ovulation. So, it goes with nature to treat the condition for getting normal, regular cycle of ovulation and subsequent menses.

The medicines not only relieve the pain but also treat the condition permanently. Unless complicated (in emergency conditions like chocolate cysts of ovary, fallopian tubal pregnancy and so on where hospitalization and immediate medical attention is needed) it is a normally completely curable condition.

There are 295 medicines which give great relief in dysmenorrhea or painful menses or periods. However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient. Thus medicines are designer made unlike allopathy in which all patients receive the same painkillers, antibiotics, anti spasmodics and so on although trade name may be different.

What is Dysmenorrhea or Painful Menses or Painful Periods?

Dysmenorrhea is a medical term for painful menstruation or menses or periods. Pain during menses is the most disturbing and frequent gynecological complaint of women during her reproductive life, affecting day-to-day activities in this busy world.

It may be due to cramps and congestion of the uterus or ovaries. Usually, it occurs just before and during menses. Pain may be mild to severe which varies from person to person in location and occurrence. Sometimes pain may be very excruciating in the lower abdomen, accompanied by anxiety, fear, fainting, vomiting, loose stools and the person may collapse with a mild degree of shock.

More than 40 percent of girls fear menses in relation to discomfort and pain. About 80 percent of the time, cramps are part of the primary dysmenorrhea syndrome. Although not a serious medical problem, it is usually meant to describe a woman with menstrual symptoms severe enough to keep her from functioning for a day or two each month.

Types and Causes

Primary Dysmenorrhea

It usually occurs in girls and young females and tends to improve with increasing age. The patients have complaints of pain ever since the periods started. The pain is usually spasmodic or colicky in character and is worse on first 2, 3 days of menses and eases as the flow establishes. There is no underlying medical problem.

Causes: The pain is due to the spasm of uterine muscle caused by excessive secretion of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are the hormones secreted by the cells in the uterus. Patients suffering from primary dysmenorrhea or painful menses or periods have high levels of prostaglandins.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea

It is due to some underlying pelvic disease. Symptoms of dysmenorrhea or painful periods or menses usually appear after few years of painless menstruation. The pain experienced is very variable but is usually dull aching pain.

The common causes of secondary dysmenorrhea are :

Adenomycosis (uterine tissue growing into the uterine wall).

Endometrial polyps (growth in the uterine lining).

Endometriosis (uterine tissue that grows outside the uterus, in the ovaries and other locations).

Fibroids (growths in the uterus).

Narrowing of the cervix as it opens into the vagina.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).

Use of an IUD.

Diagnosis

Dysmenorrhea or painful menses or painful periods is a very common, acute complaint which should be evaluated medically. But in most of the cases, proper medical attention is not given due to home therapy and advice from older women.

Also, in most of the cases, its pain is wrongly diagnosed as appendicitis and the innocent, normal appendix gets assaulted by surgery. Likewise, some intestinal problems are maltreated or left untreated thinking it is pain related to periods.

In the era of ultrasound scan, diagnosis can be easily made. It mainly helps to rule out the emergency conditions like ectopic pregnancy or appendix mass or chocolate cysts of ovaries, and so on.

Also, examination and history of pain for a patient gives added points for diagnosis. The occurrence and point of the pain also help in diagnosis.

In case of difficulty in diagnosis, it is mostily found to be hormonal. The nature of the pain also helps in diagnosing the type and its causes. Constant lower abdomen pain and backache denotes congestive dysmenorrhea. Cramping pains often denote spasmodic dysmenorrhea.

Hysteroscopy and laproscopy also give an idea of the patient’s condition.

Blood tests and culture and sensitivity tests are to be done to rule out sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis and so on.

Home Remedies

Massage the lower abodmen, back, and legs with oil or lotion containing chamomile.

Eating a balanced diet consisting of small meals throughout the day rather than three larger meals and avoiding sugar, salt, and caffeine may help relieve or prevent cramping.